Do we really need two AirPods 5? It all comes down to $20

Apple just announced the AirPods 5, and the pricing caught me by surprise. They start at $129, and unlike the AirPods 4, you now get Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) at that price. Previously, you had to spend $179 on the AirPods 4 with ANC.

So far, so good. Apple just made ANC $50 cheaper. But then I noticed there are still two pairs of AirPods 5.

Spend $129, and you get ANC. Spend $149, and you get the same ANC and acoustic hardware, plus a wireless charging case, an extra hour of battery life with ANC on, and the fancy volume-swipe controls from the AirPods Pro 3.

C’mon, Apple. Do we really need the $20 upsell?

What does the extra $20 actually get you?

Of all the differences between the two versions, the volume swipe controls bother me the most. I’ve been using them on my AirPods Pro for years, and they’re one of those small conveniences I really notice when I use earbuds without them. Swipe up on the stem to turn up the volume, swipe down to turn it down, and I don’t have to reach for my phone.

Putting that feature exclusively on the $149 model feels like a strange place to draw the line, especially now that Apple has finally decided to make ANC standard. Apparently, reducing external noise is included, but changing the volume from the stem is where we need to start talking about upgrades.

Sure, $20 isn’t a lot of money, but that’s kinda the point. If I’m already spending $129 on a new pair of AirPods, the $149 version starts looking awfully tempting. Suddenly, that $129 purchase is $149.

Apple, you also just announced a $1,999 phone… You can throw in the volume controls and wireless charging.

These are basically the same AirPods

The strange thing about having two versions is that Apple hasn’t really divided them by the features that affect the core listening experience. Both AirPods 5 get the new multiport acoustic architecture, next-generation Adaptive EQ, ANC, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, and Personalized Spatial Audio. You also get the same Siri AI and Live Translation features regardless of which version you buy.

In one sense, I’m glad Apple did it this way. I’d much rather see ANC standard on both versions than have it locked behind the more expensive model, as it was with the AirPods 4. If you buy the $129 AirPods 5, you’re not getting the “bad” AirPods 5 when it comes to the main audio features.

But that also makes me question why we need two versions in the first place. If Apple can put the same ANC and audio hardware in both, are wireless charging and volume controls really enough to justify another model? I don’t think so.

Of course, I’d buy the $149 AirPods 5

After all this complaining, of course, I’d buy the $149 AirPods 5. I use the volume controls on my AirPods Pro 3 all the time. I like wireless charging, and if I’m buying a pair of earbuds I’ll use every day for the next few years, there’s no way I’m giving those things up to save $20.

And that’s exactly why this upsell is so annoying. Apple knows $20 is small enough that plenty of people will look at the two options and say, “Ah, screw it, it’s only 20 bucks.” I know I would. Suddenly, Apple has turned a genuinely great $129 starting price into a $149 purchase without giving you better ANC or sound quality.

Don’t get me wrong, making ANC standard for $129 is a win. I’m just rolling my eyes at Apple taking that win and immediately finding another little way to move us up the pricing ladder.

Personally, I’d rather have one pair of AirPods 5 with all the features. One buying decision, and no wondering whether saving $20 is worth giving up features I use every day.